 Timur Bekmambetov isn't a household name (which is kind of a relief—just try saying it five times fast), but his reputation came jetting over from Russia well before he took the helm of the comic book action flick Wanted. As creator of the films Day Watch and Night Watch—each equal parts fantasy, adventure, and horror—Bekmambetov began drawing comparisons to Guillermo del Toro and Peter Jackson. Now, he's tackling Mark Millar and J.G. Jones' graphic graphic novel about a working schlub who discovers he's got the genetics to be a world-class assassin. Luckily, Bekmambetov's got style to burn and a willingness to shoot a PG-13 rating right between the eyes.
Was there any pressure on you to tone down the violence in Wanted?
Don't talk about it! Because, for the moment, no. [Laughs] But if somebody would wake up and say, "Wait a minute, wait a minute, what's happening? It's a summer movie, why it's so…red?" [Laughs]
PG-13 ratings are as rampant these days as tomato runs—it's nice to see a movie embrace the violence.
Yes, yes. The blood is kind of like you sign an agreement between the audience and the creators. Like in medieval times, people cut their hands and put them together to mix the blood. Blood is just the sign of a truthful conversation.
How involved were the comic's creators, Mark Millar and J.G. Jones?
Every time we had creative problems, I asked people, "Where's the comic book?" And there was all the answers. And when I met Mark Millar, he was very polite. It was important for me to meet him personally, because then you feel what is behind the pages of the comic book. Also, it helped me to understand who Wesley [Gibson, the main character] is, and who has to play Wesley. Because James McAvoy grew up in the same city [as Millar], in Glasgow. Maybe they were neighbors, I don't know. [Laughs] But for sure they had exactly the same sense of humor. Very sarcastic. And smart.
 James isn't your typical action hero. Did he ever ask you, "Are you sure you want me?"
It was exactly the right person to be a man whose journey is to be an assassin. And it was not only a high stake for Wesley, but also a high stake for James to achieve. He shaped his body—first time in his life he says he went to the gym and started to work hard to look better. It was part of the preparation for him.
How did you go about recruiting the other cast members, like Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie?
It is like a puzzle; you have to find the first piece, then the second. James was the main center, then it was important to find a person who will tell him the truth, kind of. And there is only one person in this country who is telling the truth every movie, and it's Morgan Freeman. He is a gentleman, and very smart. And Wesley is a very unique character—usually in traditional mythological structure, the hero has to refuse the adventure [before he accepts it]. He is with a gun shooting, but still trying to make jokes and trying to be ironic about his role. So in this case, Morgan is not enough to change his mind. We need another part—and that is Angelina—to make this world more attractive.
Can we just say thank you for giving Morgan Freeman the line "Shoot this motherfucker!"? He rarely gets lines like that.
I am hoping people will see the TV version of this, where Morgan says, "Shoot this melon farmer!" [Laughs]
Were there any sequences planned for the movie that went too far, even for you?
No. Because there were rules from the beginning for [the assassins]. They don't kill innocent people. And they are killing for a purpose, they are like soldiers. They are not having fun. They are servicing the idea. I don't think about [the violence] too much. There are other people who will tell us that.
 The Dark Knight was filming in Chicago at the same time you were shooting Wanted. Did you ever pop over to see what they were up to?
Yeah, we were there the same time, so the…how is called mobile? Batmobile. I saw it in the streets. That was fun. Can you imagine a story—Wesley Gibson against Batman? Next movie! [Laughs] We have the same actor, too: Morgan Freeman.
Has there been any talk of a sequel?
I'm sure somebody is already talking about it. I don't think the decision has to be made before we see the reactions of the audience. People will tell us what to do.
Are you working on the third part of the Day Watch trilogy, Twilight Watch?
No. I'm kind of done with this kind of movie. For now. Wanted was the third fantasy-action movie for me. And I don't really know if I can do [another].
What else would you like to do?
I have in development a big project. I don't think I will start it soon, because Wanted was two years of a lot of work. But it is even more eye-popping than Wanted. Unfortunately, it is superstition; I cannot tell you the subject. But I created a new way of fighting. And that will be for the next movie. I have been developing this project for many years. I think maybe if the audience like Wanted, I will do this one here. Otherwise, I will go back and make it in Russia.
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